The Sharpshooters archive has an incredible collection of over 8,000 photographs taken during WWII. Combining this with our Regimental records and numerous personal accounts, they tell a unique and fascinating story about the life of both the unit and the remarkable individuals who took served during the war. This second volume follows the development of both Sharpshooters Regiments from the phoney war to their first deployment overseas, two years later. The story is all the more compelling as they were made up of a blend of part-time soldiers, a smattering of professionals and numerous drafts of conscripts ? ordinary people called on to do extraordinary things. 1.Forging the tool This first section looks at the chaos of the first few days of war where the Regiment had to suddenly take on ? and find accommodation for ? two entire regiments in the centre of London. At that time this was the only armoured brigade entirely composed of Territorial troops ? not that they had anything that might resemble a tank. 2. Working Up Within a few days they were sent to the West Country, around Ilfracombe, where they overwintered, whilst beginning the process of turning a motley but enthusiastic band of novices into an efficient fighting unit. Over the following two years we follow the story of the two regiments as they prepare for War 3. Deployment After a final embarkation leave, the regiments were brought to readiness with additional personnel to bring them over strength before embarking at Liverpool. AUTHOR: Daniel Taylor has studied 20th Century warfare for over thirty years. The recording and commemoration of the actions of soldiers during an era of global conflict remains been his passion. Now that the veterans of those wars have all but disappeared, his ambition is to represent their stories to inspire and inform younger generations. After serving in the Territorial Army during the 1980s and 90s, he started writing articles for specialist magazines and lecturing on military history, including venues such as RMA Sandhurst, the National Army Museum, and the Tank Museum, also appearing in and presenting TV documentaries. In recent years Daniel has become the Curator for the Kent & Sharpshooters Yeomanry Museum, based at Hever Castle in Kent. He continues to lead battlefield tours to the original locations to help better explain their significance for schools, various units of the British Army, and groups of veterans (and members of their families), retracing the footsteps of the past. Whilst specialising in Normandy, he has led tour so the Western Front, Italy, Libya and Egypt. He now lives in Kent, is married, and has two sons. 350 b/w illustrations
